Many expected that Qualcomm's new Snapdragon 820 processor would be unveiled this week, as the SIGGRAPH trade show was being held in Los Angeles (and there was speculation that this was the time chosen by the company to show off its new SoC). But, in the end, that didn't happen, although what was revealed was the GPU. Adreno 530 and 510.
The fact is that this makes much more sense, since at this fair the content in the graphic section is capital, so the choice of Qualcomm makes perfect sense. These GPUs, the Adreno 530 and 510, are the ones that will be in the game at the Snapdragon 820 and 620/618 (respectively), so we are already learning about some of what the new SoCs from the well-known processor manufacturer will offer.
As expected in a new generation of GPUs, what the one developed by Qualcomm will offer is greater power per hour to display three-dimensional graphics on the screens of phones and tablets, and also with very low power consumption. So much so that the company's Vice President, Tim leland, Indicated that performance increase is 40% over previous generations and, as regards energy needs, these decrease by a similar percentage thanks, among other factors, to the process 14nm FinFET.
Some important features of the new GPU will seamlessly support 64-bit architecture; it will support video 4K HEVC over HDMI 2.0 at 60 fps and wirelessly, up to 4K at 30 fps via Miracast; and will use new compression and rendering options that ensure lower energy requirements. The improvement of improveTouch, for improved touchscreen usability in all conditions, such as with gloves.
Details to know
For example, the new GPUs announced are compatible with the APIs OpenGL ES 3.1 and AEP (Android Extension Pack). In addition, options such as OpenCL 2.0, Renderscript o Vulkan to make multitasking and heterogeneous computing as smooth as possible. The video section adds the technologies Qualcomm EcoPix y TruePalette, which improves viewing in bright light and provides a greater and better-tuned dynamic range of colors. The Adreno 530 has also been designed with demanding games, fluid interfaces, heavy web browsing and experiences of virtual reality, where latency and efficiency are critical.
It should not be missed when it arrives Qualcomm Spectra next to the Adreno 530 in the Snapdragon 820: This is an image processing unit. 14 bits which represents a leap in quality when taking photographs. It allows you to use up to three cameras simultaneously with a quality of 25 megapixels at 30 FPS, improving noise processing, focusing in low-light environments, and reducing shutter lag to practically nonexistent. Its notable features include hybrid autofocus y multisensor fusion to achieve a more accurate white balance and more natural skin tones.
As for the possible arrival of the Snapdragon 820, these SoCs are expected to be available in upcoming waves of devices, so the announcement of the models that will integrate it will be happening in the short term. For those seeking context, the Adreno 530 has shown in leaked GFXBench tests a performance that outperforms PowerVR GT7600 and stays very close to NVIDIA Tegra X1 in sustained scenarios, marking clear leadership in its mobile segment.
Real performance, gaming and compatibility
On paper, the +40% performance and the 40% savings compared to Adreno 430 translates into longer and more stable gaming sessions. In popular titles, figures have been measured around 30-40 fps in PUBG or Call of Duty: Mobile, while especially heavy or less optimized proposals such as Genshin Impact or Fortnite can move in the environment of high to low tens of frames if high qualities are forced. By adjusting graphics and resolution, the experience improves significantly thanks to compatibility with Vulkan already a more efficient graphics pipeline.
Beyond gaming, support for HDMI 2.0 It allows you to output 4K video at 60 Hz to external displays and, wirelessly, reach 4K at 30 Hz via Miracast. The multimedia engine with HEVC / H.265 accelerates the playback and encoding of high-resolution content while reducing power consumption. And for everyday use, the combination of EcoPix and TruePalette helps maintain good readability in full light and consistent colorimetry.
La Adreno 510, for its part, brings some of these improvements to the mid-range, designed for the Snapdragon 620/618 and equivalents, with support for the same modern APIs and a noticeable jump compared to previous generations. It doesn't reach the peaks of the 530, but maintains efficiency and key functionalities for multimedia and casual games.
In terms of integration, the Snapdragon 820 typically combines the Adreno 530 with a modem Snapdragon X12, enabling high speeds on mobile networks, and benefits from the 14nm process to keep temperatures under control under sustained loads, something key compared to previous iterations.
Regarding compatibility, the duo Snapdragon 820/821 with Adreno 530 has reached a long list of reference devices in its category: Samsung Galaxy S7/S7 Active, LG G5/G6 y V20, OnePlus 3 / 3T, Xiaomi Mi 5/5s/5s Plus/Mi Mix, ZTE Axon 7, Sony Xperia X Performance/XZ/XZs, Google Pixel/Pixel XL, Lenovo Moto Z and Moto Z Force, Asus ZenFone 3 Deluxe/ZenFone AR, HP Elite x3, BlackBerry DTEK60, among others, as well as tablets such as Samsung Galaxy Tab S3This massive adoption reinforces its maturity in gaming, photography, and connectivity.
As an additional reference for those looking at synthetic tests, approximate scores have been seen in AnTuTu above 150.000 units, a Geekbench in the orbit of what was expected for its Kryo CPU, and in 3DMark with competitive results within its class; numbers that vary depending on the device, cooling system, and software version.
The balance between sustained graphics power, Energy Efficiency and an advanced ISP makes the Adreno 530 a key player for fluid experiences in gaming, lightweight VR, and computational photography in the Snapdragon 820 ecosystem, while the Adreno 510 democratizes some of these advantages in more affordable segments.